Let’s talk about things that should stick together, and also things that ought not stick together. We have two NT terms: kallaō (to join closely) and proskallaō (to cleave, perhaps a slightly stronger connection given the “pros” prefix; Vine says it is a strengthened form; Vincent called it “most intimate union”).
· Matt. 19:5; Mk. 10:7; Eph. 5:31: three of the four uses of “proskallaō” quote Gen. 2:24: Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Certainly the stronger term fits this relationship. A man and woman, being married, are meant to be close together. This is not merely a statement about divorce; it describes the relationship and what must take a central place in the two lives. As Paul said in 1 Cor. 7:33-34, a married person cares about their spouse, how they may please them. I Cor. 6:16 is based on this principle when it speaks of being united with a harlot. And the next verse (v17) speaks of our union with Christ.
· Ac. 5:36: This is the other use of “pros” verb is of many men who joined themselves to Theudas, a revolutionary of sorts.
· Luke 10:11: Jesus told The Twelve to shake off the dust “that sticks to your feet” of the town that rejected their message. This indicates the significance of the choice to receive or reject Christ.
· Luke 15:15: The prodigal son “joined himself” to a citizen of the country where he was. A work relationship requires a certain level of “adherence.” The epistles bear this out (e.g. 1 Tim. 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-10).
· Acts 5:13: The fellowship of Christ in His Body is one that involved adherence. Even unbelievers understood this: after what happened with Ananias and Sapphira there was a fear/respect that kept “pretend” believers from joining. In Ac. 9:26 Paul tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem but couldn’t in without the help of Barnabas. Join is what needs to happen; in this case they had reason to take caution. A church needs encouragers like Barnabas to help people join.
· Ac. 8:29: If you want to be used of the Lord in others coming to know Him you will need to be willing to “go near and overtake” them. According to Judaism it was unlawful for Jews to associate with Gentiles (Ac. 10:28). Followers of Christ are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-18), but that is not the same as associating with them at all (1 Cor. 5:9-11). In Acts 17:34 some who heard Paul joined him and believed, meaning that the discipling relationship requires both the one with the gospel and the one needing the gospel to make a commitment to join together.
· Rom. 12:9: Cling to what is good! Enough said!
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